Re: 2022/2023 Rocky Horror Roto Show
Always like to do a little post-season retrospective to see where my pre-season thoughts and strategy either hit or missed.
Final outcome for me was NOT good this season - but I try to temper my evaluation based on a bit more context than pure outcome (which is still obviously the 'acid' test).
Draft Strategy - C+
I was committed to trying something a bit new this year and was 'successful' in drafting based on that. As mentioned in my post-draft write-up, it left me with a pretty unbalanced team so I knew I had lots of 'work' to do - but felt like there were enough pieces in place to be relevant.
At the end of the day though, my goalies absolutely sunk any chance I had this year by about December. It's not so much that fading goalies wasn't a good strategy (it's one I've typically done for years with various results) - it's that I whiffed on nearly every goalie I took. Made for a scramble just to hit max games starting Sogaard and Nedeljkovic and whoever else I could find on the wire!
Fleury - not good and lost starter status mid-way to Gus
Binnington - should have believed the rankings
P.Francouz - didn't become #1 in COL and injured a ton (*WORST PART - I drafted him to block CCC from the COL tandem... and CCC still killed all the goalie cats lol)
C.Petersen - FFS I did not see 'minors' as even a remote possibility
P.Grubauer - Just a brutal start to the year - recovered some value a bit later
So basically, my super late goalie pick (Rd 19 or something) was the only one who came close to delivering draft value.
In-Season Moves - B+
I was able (eventually) to shift my overages (C's, Scoring) into better balance (W, Peripherals) but it was later in the year than I was hoping for.
I finished decently in skater cats and had my goalies been average - I'm probably landing 5th.
So still not good enough to win, but top half is always an accomplishment in a league this good.
HITS/MISSES:
Hits - T.Stutzle, C.Verhaeghe, B.McNabb, C.McAvoy, M.Barzal, E.Malkin, Kuzmenko (waiver)
Misses - Goalies, Kuch/Marner in Rds 1/2 (ok but didn't really deliver full value), R.Hartman (lost C1 and then was hurt), O.Palat (used #1 waiver priority on him and he stunk)
Season Grade: B-
If my goalies are decent then I'm finishing top half but still not good enough to win. I was happy with the trades (in general) but it's never good to "have" to make trades just to keep pace. A few more "hits" at the draft table were necessary but this group makes that REALLY hard to do.
Conclusion:
I always like changing up my draft strategy each year anyways, but I won't be using the rigid "stick to my tier" strategy again as it just puts too much emphasis on having to re-balance during the year. My one "reach" (where I didn't follow my tiers for sake of position/balance) was Stutzle - probably my best pick next to Verhaeghe value-wise.
Especially unsure of how I'll approach goalies next year - but I'm guessing I'll pony up early for a stud or really fade them with plans on being a waiver-wire hawk for that position over the year.
By far my most challenging league each year and full of fun and (super) knowledgable GMs. Thanks to my fellow GMs and especially sad to be losing one of the most important next season... raising a glass to him!
RHRS, Yahoo, 12-team, Roto
PQMC, Yahoo, 12-team, Keep 11, H2H
Taro Tsujimoto Draft League, Fantrax, 6-team, pts-only (*2018 draftees or later only)
Hanson Bros., Fantrax, 10-Team, Keep 8, weighted scoring
Black & Blue, Fantrax, 12-Team, Dynasty, H2H weighted
The Dream Team League, Fantrax, 14-Team, Dynasty, H2H
On Frozen Ponds, Fantrax 10-Team, Dynasty, Roto
"When I do not know who I am I serve you, and when I do know who I am, you and I are one." - Hanuman-ji